Happy Happy Birthday Hillary

As 2016 Looms, Not Everyone Thinks Hillary Clinton Should Be The Only One At The Party

CLINTON’S OWN BASE IS NOT SHOWING HER THE LOVE FOR 2016

The Nation Executive Editor Richard Kim: “The Prospect Of A Clinton Restoration, Frankly, Fills Me With Dread.” “If Hillary wins, it will likely be because she scared off potential insurgents and shut down the debate early. If her campaign gets hold of the Obama small-donor list, the only credible countervailing force to Clinton’s unmatchable war chest and elite connections, it’s game over. And once in office, how can she not reward the loyalists who helped her out? The prospect of a Clinton restoration, frankly, fills me with dread.” (Richard Kim, “Hillary Clinton: It’s Not Her Turn,” The Nation,10/2/13)

Kim On A 2016 Hillary Clinton Nomination: “Can’t We Aspire To Do Better?” “It’s certainly possible that in an uninspired field that consists of Joe Biden, Andrew Cuomo and Martin O’Malley, Clinton would emerge as the least-worst choice. But at this point, can’t we aspire to do better? Senator Warren, your country calls.” (Richard Kim, “Hillary Clinton: It’s Not Her Turn,” The Nation,10/2/13)

It’s “Hard To Imagine” A Democrat More “Ill-Suited” To Reflect The Party’s Populist Mood Than Hillary Clinton. “It’s also hard to imagine a Democrat of national stature more ill-equipped to speak to this populist mood than Hillary Clinton.” (Richard Kim, “Hillary Clinton: It’s Not Her Turn,” The Nation,10/2/13)

Democrat Activists Are Looking For An Alternative To A Hillary Clinton 2016 Nomination, “Such As First Term Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren.” “Progressives aren’t so sure. In an article in The Nation earlier this month, Richard Kim, executive editor of TheNation.com, wrote that it’s ‘hard to imagine a Democrat of national stature more ill-equipped to speak to this populist mood than Hillary Clinton.’ While Clinton stumps for McAuliffe and Democratic New York City Mayoral candidate Bill De Blasio, activists are already looking for alternative candidates, such as first term Massachussetts Senator Elizabeth Warren.” (Meredith Clark, “Clinton Vs. Bush,” MSNBC, 10/21/13)

“Hillary Clinton's Lofty Status As The Apparent 2016 Democratic Nominee-In-Waiting Has Some Allies Concerned That The Hype Might Be Too Much, Too Soon.” “Hillary Clinton's lofty status as the apparent 2016 Democratic nominee-in-waiting has some allies concerned that the hype might be too much, too soon. This seeming inevitability makes her more sensitive to attacks and risks amplifying any stumble, no matter how minor. And voters may react poorly to a candidate who appears to be waltzing to the nomination with minimal effort.” (Michael O’Brien, “Hillary Hype Poses Risks For A Potential 2016 Candidacy,” NBC News, 8/19/13)

AND THEY WORRY SHE IS RAMPING UP TOO QUICKLY FOR 2016

Democrat Strategist Robert Gibbs On Clinton: “I Am Fairly Floored That She Has Decided To Enter The Public Fray So Quickly.” NBC’S DAVID GREGORY: “There is a question, Robert Gibbs, that I have, which is how does Hillary Clinton position herself, vis-a-vis Barack Obama? She wants a coalition that he has built her in 2012. She wants that certainly to be her coalition in 2016, but the legacy of Obama could both help and hurt her. How does she distinguish herself and have room to run?” GIBBS: “Well, she also has to distinguish herself from her husband, too, right? … I as a strategist am fairly floored that she has decided to enter the public fray so quickly. She could do the foundation work, she could do issue work, she could build the campaign, she could develop a message without having to be so far out front there. And Chuck talks about strong bipartisan approval ratings, those will whittle quite quickly as she steps further and further-” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 8/18/13)

Gibbs: “If Her Campaign Becomes An Extension Really Of Either Her Husband’s Term Or The Current President’s Term, It’s Not Necessarily A Good Deal For Her.” GIBBS: “Listen, if her campaign becomes an extension really of either her husband’s term or the current president’s term, it’s not necessarily a good deal for her. I completely agree with Chuck.” (NBC’s “Meet The Press,” 8/18/13)

Newsweek Editor Tina Brown Is Not Sure That The Attention On Clinton Is “So Great” For Her 2016 Hopes. TINA BROWN: “I'm not sure it's so great for Hillary Clinton actually. I mean I think there is the curse of the frontrunner situation for her now. This is just getting so much kind of focus on her, so much early, you know, garbage about her, so much anger about her which will build and, in a way, by the time she runs, she will be an old story again which I do think is a problem. You can see the freshness of a Chris Christie if he were to be the nominee, a newer story, fresher story. And that was one of her problems last time. She felt like old news. So I don't necessarily think it's so great for Hillary Clinton that all of this -” (MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” 8/19/13)

AS HILLARY CLINTON RAMPS UP HER CAMPAIGN OPERATION,THE DEMOCRAT 2016 FIELD IS ALREADY IN PRIMARY SNIPING SEASON

Biden Vs. Clinton

Biden Is “Intoxicated” By The Thought Of Running In 2016. “Biden, according to a number of advisers and Democrats who have spoken to him in recent months, wants to run, or at least be well positioned to run, if and when he decides to pull the trigger. Biden has expressed a clear sense of urgency, convinced the Democratic field will be defined quickly — and that it might very well come down to a private chat with Hillary Clinton about who should finish what Barack Obama started. ‘He’s intoxicated by the idea, and it’s impossible not to be intoxicated by the idea,’ said a Democrat close to the White House. And the intoxication is hardly new.” (Mike Allen, Jonathan Martin, and Jim Vandehei, “Joe Biden ‘Intoxicated’ By 2016 Run,” Politico’s Behind The Curtain, 1/23/13)

The Relationship Between Biden And Clinton Has Been “Shaped By Awkwardness And Slights” That Biden And His Advisers Have Felt “As Mrs. Clinton Attracted Outsize Attention And Influence In The Democratic Party.” “But their relationship has also been shaped by awkwardness and slights, real and perceived, that Mr. Biden and his political advisers have felt as Mrs. Clinton attracted outsize attention and influence in the Democratic Party. Now their friendship is being tested anew, as curiosity grows about their possible presidential candidacies for 2016 and Mr. Biden finds himself once again frustratingly eclipsed by the former first lady, whom Senate colleagues are already endorsing and political action committees are springing up to support.” (Amy Chozik, “Biden And Clinton: Friends With Awkward Twist,” The New York Times, 9/14/13)

“Mr. Biden’s Longtime Political Advisers Grow Easily Exasperated About The Subject And Wonder How A Sitting Vice President Who Was Highly Engaged In The Administration, Especially On Foreign Policy, Can Be So Easily Overlooked In The Presidential Discussion.” “Mr. Biden’s longtime political advisers grow easily exasperated about the subject and wonder how a sitting vice president who was highly engaged in the administration, especially on foreign policy, can be so easily overlooked in the presidential discussion. After all, recent vice presidents, like Al Gore, George Bush and Walter F. Mondale, generally secure their party’s nomination if they seek it. ‘The undercurrent of ‘What about me?’ permeates from the top down in the vice president’s orbit,’ one former administration official said.” (Amy Chozik, “Biden And Clinton: Friends With Awkward Twist,” The New York Times, 9/14/13)

Biden’s Camp “Clearly Feels That His Record Is Underappreciated” When Compared To Clinton’s. “But his camp clearly feels that his record is underappreciated, especially on foreign policy. One person close to the vice president suggested that while Mrs. Clinton elevated important issues surrounding women and girls as secretary of state, Mr. Biden took on tougher questions.” (Amy Chozik, “Biden And Clinton: Friends With Awkward Twist,” The New York Times, 9/14/13)

Clinton Vs. Biden

Recently, “Former Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton On Tuesday Took Some Indirect Swipes At Vice President Joe Biden At An Off-The-Record Gathering.” “Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday took some indirect swipes at Vice President Joe Biden at an off-the-record gathering, a state representative in attendance told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.” (Katie Glueck, “Hillary Clinton: I Backed Osama Bin Laden Raid, Joe Biden Didn’t,” Politico, 10/15/13)

When Asked About The Osama Bin Laden Raid, Clinton Took The Time To Mention Biden’s Opposition To The Raid While Touting Her Approval. “Former U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton was in town today. A few Secret Squirrels, and some not so secret, agreed to be our sources, given that her speech to the National Association of Convenience Stores was encapsulated by a cone of silence. Convention officials banned all video and sound recording, social media, and naturally, journalists. No ears reported any mention of whatever 2016 ambitions Clinton might have. But state Rep. Tom Taylor, R-Dunwoody, said the former first lady dropped a huge hint. ‘I know she’s running for president now, because toward the end, she was asked about the Osama bin Laden raid. She took 25 minutes to answer,’ Taylor said. ‘Without turning the knife too deeply, she put it to [Vice President Joe] Biden.’ Time and time again, Taylor said, Clinton mentioned the vice president's opposition to the raid, while characterizing herself and Leon Panetta, then director of the Central Intelligence Agency, as the action's most fierce advocates.” (Greg Bluestein and Jim Galloway, “Hearsay From Hillary Clinton: On Joe Biden And The Osama Bin Laden Raid,” Atlanta-Journal Constitution, 10/15/13)

Clinton Has Noted Biden’s Opposition To The Bin Laden Raid On More Than One Occasion. “Clinton struck a similar theme at another recent speech before the Long Island Association, according to an attendee. She was asked about bin Laden at that event as well, and in her telling, the attendee said, ‘She and the CIA director were for the attack, and Biden and the secretary of defense were against the attack.’ She also said that wives and children who were vulnerable during the attack were moved ‘to a safe location so they wouldn’t be hurt,’ a fact she suggested media accounts had not discussed, the attendee said.” (Kate Glueck, “Hillary Clinton: I Backed Osama Bin Laden Raid, Joe Biden Didn’t,” Politico, 10/15/13)

“Why Take A Shot At Biden? Because If Clinton Chooses To Run For President In 2016, Vice President Biden Would Likely Be Her No. 1 Opponent In The Race For The Democratic Nomination, And Contrasting Her Position With Biden's On The Bin Laden Raid Presumably Casts Her In A More Presidential Light.”(Jay Hart, “Did Hillary Clinton Tip Her Hand On 2016 Presidential Run?,” Yahoo News, 10/15/13)

Schweitzer Vs. Clinton

When Former Gov. Brian Schweitzer (D-MT) Was Asked Whether Any Democrat Could Run Against Clinton, He Left Room For Himself By Asking Whether There Was Somebody Other Than A “Clinton Who Can Be President In These Modern Times?” “Asked whether there would be room for a populist candidate to run a credible race against Clinton, Schweitzer left no doubt that he can envision himself in that very role. After noting that a high percentage of Democratic primary voters are women and agreeing that it is ‘time for a woman president,’ Schweitzer quickly qualified his assessment by adding what would likely be a central tenet of his pitch in a campaign against Clinton: ‘There’s a whole lot of America that looks at each other and says, ‘Well, there’s 340 million people living in America. Isn’t there somebody other than a Bush or a Clinton who can be president in these modern times?’” (Scott Conroy, “Brian Schweitzer Mulling 2016 Presidential Bid,” Real Clear Politics, 10/18/13)

Schweitzer Asked “Are We Now In The Era Of Royalty Again? So I Think There’s Some Level Of Frustration About That.” “‘Isn’t there hope for somebody who’s running a business or who has served overseas or comes from a different occupation to become president? Are we now in the era of royalty again?’ So I think there’s some level of frustration about that.’” (Scott Conroy, “Brian Schweitzer Mulling 2016 Presidential Bid,” Real Clear Politics, 10/18/13)

O’Malley Vs. Cuomo

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley Has Recently “Signaled That He Is Moving Closer To Mounting A 2016 Presidential Campaign.” “Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signaled that he is moving closer to mounting a 2016 presidential campaign this weekend at the summer meeting of the National Governors Association in Milwaukee.” (Zeke J. Miller, “Martin O’Malley Steps Closer To 2016 Run Presidential Run,” TIME’s Swampland, 8/3/13)

Capital New York Headline: “In New York, O’Malley Boosts De Blasio And Tweaks Cuomo.” (Azi Paybarah, “In New York, O’Malley Boosts De Blasio And Tweaks Cuomo,” Capital New York, 10/18/13)

At A Panel In Manhattan, O’Malley Boasted About A Policy He Implemented In His Own State That Governor Cuomo Has Ruled Out In New York. “At an event in Manhattan this morning, O'Malley, a Democrat and hypothetical Cuomo rival in 2016, said that he raised taxes in his own state to fund universal pre-kindergarten. De Blasio has made a proposal to tax wealthy New York City residents to fund pre-K a centerpiece of his mayoral campaign. Cuomo seemed to rule out the possibility of approving the increase in Albany. Then when de Blasio, a longtime ally, suggested that Cuomo hadn't actually ruled it out, the governor left him hanging.” (Azi Paybarah, “In New York, O’Malley Boosts De Blasio And Tweaks Cuomo,” Capital New York, 10/18/13)